Hydroponic plant grow cabinet

ABSTRACT

Present invention relates to a hydroponic plant grow cabinet, comprising a housing, said housing comprising main plant growing chamber and a pre-growing chamber for seeds/seedlings, main tank and auxiliary tanks for a nutrient solution and pH level regulating solutions, pumps and tubing, lighting means, ventilating means, control means, sensors, display means, loudspeaker and user input means, network communication means, connection to electric main, connections to water mains and sewage.

CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/597,406 filed May 17, 2017, which claims the benefit of EstonianApplication No: U201600025 filed Jun. 3, 2016, the content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Present invention relates to a hydroponic plant grow cabinet. Moreprecisely present invention relates to a home or professional appliancefor growing edible plants using fully automated hydroponic technology.

BACKGROUND ART

In patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,974A (published Aug. 2, 1994) is known aportable grow cabinet, comprising control means for controlling variousenvironmental functions, such as plant watering, temperature, humidity,air circulation and lighting. However said existing cabinet offers verylimited automation and requires regular maintenance (for examplefrequent refilling) and frequent monitoring by the user.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide an easy and simple to usefully automated apparatus to grow plants hydroponically in a limitedplace. Said cabinet is intended for a non-professional growers, i.e. tothe end users, as restaurants, offices or private homes.

The aim of the present invention is also to provide fully automated growcabinet requiring minimum amount of an attention and maintenance fromthe end user.

The aim of the present invention is also to provide fully automated growcabinet which simply requires to be plugged into the electric socket, tothe water mains and sewage similarly to an ordinary washing machine.

Present invention provides a hydroponic plant grow cabinet, comprising ahousing, said housing comprising main plant growing chamber and apre-growing chamber for seed/seedlings, main tank and auxiliary tanksfor a nutrient solution and pH level regulating solutions, pumps andtubing, lighting means, ventilating means, control means, sensors,display means, loudspeaker and user input means, network communicationmeans and connection to electric main.

Also said cabinet comprises connections to water mains and sewage,inside said housing cabinet comprises:

a module of a refill cartridge system for cartridges with nutrients andchemicals for regulating pH level;

in the main chamber at least one module of plant growing pod stands,said module being slidable in and out of the chamber, where each standcomprises in vertical direction multitude of plant grow pods one abovethe other; and

in the pre-growing chamber at least one holder module for receivingseveral seed/seedling growing cups, said cup holder module beingslidable in and out of the chamber.

Preferably the nutrient solution is fed from the main tank to said plantgrowing pod stands at the top of the main chamber into the top mostgrowing pod, where in the bottom of each growing pod is an aperture.

The bottom aperture of the pod above opens into the pod below such thatnutrient solution fed into the top most pod is fed through bottomapertures of pods from pods above to pods below. The nutrient solutionexiting from the lower most pod is collected to a collecting pan to befed further into the pre-growing chamber.

Preferably the nutrient solution fed into the pre-growing chamber iscollected onto a solution pan below the holder module for receivingseveral seed/seedling growing cups, where level of the solution in asolution pan is kept such that at least the bottom part of eachseed/seedling growing cup is immerged into the solution and the excesssolution is fed into the main tank.

Preferably the concentration of nutrients in the nutrient solution inthe main tank is replenished from the auxiliary tank for a nutrientsolution and water from the water main.

Preferably the pH level of solution in the main tank is regulated by thechemicals from the auxiliary tanks for chemicals for regulating pHlevel.

Preferably the module of a refill cartridge system for cartridges withnutrients and chemicals for regulating pH level comprises threecartridges, one cartridge for nutrients for growing plant, one cartridgefor chemical for regulating pH level down and one cartridge for chemicalfor regulating pH level up.

Preferably the control means are set to send through networkcommunication means status and alarm messages to user's communicationdevice, such as smart phone, computer, laptop or tablet.

For sanitation and to avoid a bacteria growth in the solution, the maintank 4 may also comprise UV-light.

Connections to the water mains and sewage may be permanent or temporary.When temporary connections to a water mains and sewage are used, saidconnections are made only when needed for refilling cabinet with freshwater and/or for draining the main tank. The need for such connectionsto be made is communicated to the user for example by displaying acorresponding message on display means and/or said message is sent tothe user through communication means.

Preferably the grow cabinet according to the invention have dimensionscorresponding to standard kitchen appliances, such as refrigerator. Thismakes it easy to integrate grow cabinet of present invention easily toany existing kitchen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is now described in greater detail with referencesto the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of agrow cabinet according to the invention, where access door to maingrowing chamber and pre-growing chamber is opened and holder module withgrow cups has been drawn out of the pre-growing chamber;

FIG. 2 represents a schematic diagram of a grow cabinet according to theinvention showing only the main parts of the cabinet;

FIG. 3 represents a schematic diagram of a grow cabinet according toFIG. 2, showing only the lower part of the cabinet comprisingpre-growing chamber, refill cartridge system and all the nutrient tanksand tubing connections.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the schematic diagrams for the sake of clarity only essential unitsand devices of the grow cabinet are depicted, therefore a wiring offans, pumps and valves are omitted from the diagram. Also a wiring ofsensors is only depicted in general manner. The liquid flow through thecabinet is depicted with dash lines ending with arrow heads.

The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to present inventioncomprises a housing 1, said housing 1 comprising main plant growingchamber 2 and a pre-growing chamber 3 for seed/seedlings, main tank 4and auxiliary tanks 5, 6 and 7.

The auxiliary tank 5 is for a nutrient solution, the auxiliary tank 6 isfor a chemical for regulating pH level up and auxiliary tank 7 is for achemical for regulating pH level down. On top of the tank 5 sits arefill cartridge 8, on top of the tank 6 sits a refill cartridge 9 and,on top of tank 7 sits a refill cartridge 10.

A module of a refill cartridge system comprises refill cartridges 8, 9and 0 and their corresponding auxiliary tanks 5, 6 and 7 for receivingtheir content.

Each corresponding auxiliary tank 5, 6, 7 is connected with a main tank4 through corresponding pump 11, 12 and 13. This enables refill maintank 4 with fresh nutrient solution or chemicals for pH level regulatingonly when needed.

In the main tank 4 is a water intake 14 followed by a filter 15. Aftersaid filter 16 tube branches into three separate channels with their owncorresponding pump 16, 17, 18.

Pump 16 is for the agitation of the liquid in the main tank 4. Pump 17is for emptying main tank 4 into a sewage. Pump 18 is for thecirculation of the nutrient solution inside of the cabinet through thegrow chambers.

The main tank 4 also includes connection to the water mains through thesolenoid valve 19.

In addition in the main tank 4 is a sensor set 20 for monitoring liquidlevel, pH level, temperature, etc.

Pump 18 feeds nutrient solution from the main tank ;4 into a upper partof the main grow chamber 2. There the solution is fed into upper ends ofeach pod stand 21.

Each pod stand 21 includes a spout 22 through which solution is fed intoa upper most pod 23 on that stand 21.

At the bottom end of each pod 23 is an aperture 24, which opens abovethe pod 23 below it. In this way the nutrient solution makes its wayfrom the upper most pod 23 through every other pod 23 on that stand 21and via each aperture 24 at the bottom of each pod 23 to a bottom mostpod 23. From the bottom most pod 23 nutrient solution is collected ontoa collection pan 25. From the collection pan 25 the nutrient solution inturn is fed into a pre-growing chamber 3.

The module of plant growing pod stand comprises therefore pod stand 21,pods 23 and collection pan 25, which are slidable as an unit (module) inand out of the main chamber 2 (preferably with collection pan 25).

In the pre-growing chamber 3 said solution is collected onto a solutionpan 26 below the holder module 27 for receiving several seed/seedlinggrowing cups 28. Said cup holder module being slidable in and out of thepre-growing chamber 3.

The level of the solution in a solution pan 26 is kept such that eachseed/seedling growing cup is immerged into the solution. Excess of thesolution is fed back into the main tank 4.

Each pod 23 contains grow medium for the plant.

As can be seen from the FIG. 1, main chamber 2 comprises also a lightingdevices 29 and environmental sensor 30 and at least one fan 33. In thepre-growing chamber 3 also includes above seed/seedling growing cups 28a lighting device 31 and environmental sensor 32.

At the top of the housing 1 are air filters 34 and control means 35. Allthe sensors, pumps, fans and solenoid valves are connected to thecontrol means 35.

The cabinet also comprises loudspeaker 36, which is also connected tothe control means 35.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, different modules in the housing 1 can beaccessed through access doors: a module of a refill cartridge system,the main chamber 4 and the pre-growing chamber 3. The pre-growingchamber 3 comprises a holder module 27 for receiving severalseed/seedling growing cups 28 and said cup holder module 27 is slidableout of the pre-growing chamber 3.

As can be seen from the FIG. 1 each stand 21 comprises in verticaldirection multitude of plant grow pods 23 one above the other.

For sanitation and to avoid a bacteria growth in the solution, the maintank 4 also comprises UV-light (not shown).

All sensors, display means (for example screen or touch screen—notshown), loudspeaker and user input means (for example keypad or touchscreen—not shown), network communication means (not shown), connectionto electric main (not shown), pumps, valves, lighting device, fans areconnected to control means 35. Control means 35 are essentiallymicroprocessor-controlled control electronics (i.e. computerized controlsystem) comprising memory means for a control program of the cabinet,which is used to maintain suitable conditions in the chambers 2 and 3 inthe cabinet for seeds/seedlings and plants to grow.

The control means are responsive to user input commands for controllingvarious environmental functions, such as plant watering, temperature,humidity, air circulation and lighting, etc. Preferably the ambientconditions within the cabinet are programmable separately for daytimeand night-time and also for seasonal cycles. The ambient temperaturewithin the chambers can be maintained at a relatively constant level, oralternatively, a temperature differential can be maintained withinchambers to accommodate various types of plants which thrive underdifferent temperature conditions.

For example said control means 35 are also used to display on thedisplay means information and status of the refill cartridges,information about conditions inside cabinet (temperature, humidity,lighting), etc. Through a network communication means alerts andinformation can be sent also to the user device (through WiFi, LANconnection, internet, mobile phone network, etc), such as smart phone,tablet, computer, etc.

The loudspeaker 36 is used to play alarms, messages and also to playmusic to plants.

The apparatus will automatically control & regulate the plants growthvia light control (software, sensor), temperature control (ventilation,watering, sensor), humidity control (sensor, ventilation watering),watering control (software schedule & humidity), nutrient concentrationlevel in the water (software schedule, pump, sensor), a water pH level(sensor, pump, software a water level (sensor, pump, software), a musiclevel (software), ventilation (fans & software).

The cabinet will also automatically inform the user when the refillcartridges of nutrients and pH level regulating chemicals need to bereplaced, when a fault occurs in the cabinet, for example faulty sensor,pump, valve, power failure, water supply failure from the water mains,sewage blockage, etc.

FIG. 1 depicts only one possible embodiment of the cabinet out of many.FIG. 1 shows an embodiment which could be referred as closed cabinetwith one or more access doors.

The cabinet according to invention can be implemented also without saiddoor, i.e. as so called open cabinet.

For person skilled in the art it is obvious that the present inventionis not limited to the embodiment depicted in the attached drawings anddescribed above but within the scope of attached claims many otherembodiments are possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1—housing-   2—main plant growing chamber-   3—pre-growing chamber-   4—main tank-   5—auxiliary tank for a nutrient solution-   6—auxiliary tank for a chemical for regulating pH level up-   7—auxiliary tank for a chemical for regulating pH level down-   8—cartridge for a nutrient solution-   9—cartridge for a chemical for regulating pH level up-   10—cartridge for a chemical for regulating pH level down-   11—pump for an auxiliary tank for a nutrient solution-   12—pump for an auxiliary tank for a chemical for regulating pH level    up-   13—pump for an auxiliary tank for a chemical for regulating pH level    down-   14—water intake-   15—filter-   16—pump-   17—pump-   18—pump-   19—solenoid valve-   20—sensor set-   21—pod stand-   22—spout-   23—pod-   24—aperture-   25—collection pan-   28—solution pan-   27—holder module-   28—growing cup-   29—lighting device-   30—environmental sensor-   31—lighting device-   32—environmental sensor-   33—fan-   34—air filter-   35—control means-   36—loudspeaker

1. A hydroponic plant grow cabinet comprising A housing, said housingcomprising a main plant growing chamber; and At least one module ofplant growing pod stands placed in the main chamber of the housing,wherein each stand comprises in vertical direction a multitude of plantgrow pods; A main tank comprising a nutrient growing solution; whereinthe nutrient solution is fed from the main tank to said plant growingpod stands at the top of the main chamber into the top most growing pod,and wherein each growing pod comprises an aperture arranged so that theaperture of each of the pods but the bottommost is above an upper end ofa pod below it.
 2. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim1, wherein the aperture of each pod is located at its bottom and whereinthe nutrient solution fed into the top-most pod is fed through bottomapertures of pods from pods above to pods below.
 3. The hydroponic plantgrow cabinet according to claim 1, further comprising a pre-growingchamber configured to house seeds and/or seedlings and comprising aholder module for receiving several seed and/or seedling growing cups.4. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 3, wherein thenutrient solution exiting from the lower most pod is configured to becollected to a collecting pan to be fed further into the pre-growingchamber.
 5. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 4,wherein the nutrient solution fed into the pre-growing chamber isconfigured to be collected onto a solution pan and the excess solutionis configured to be fed into the main tank.
 6. The hydroponic plant growcabinet according to claim 1, further comprising a network communicationcomponent configured to communicate with a user device and wherein thehydroponic plant grow cabinet is configured to send through the networkcommunication component status and alarm messages to the user device. 7.The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 1, furthercomprising a controller configured to maintain suitable conditions forgrowing plants.
 8. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim7, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of plantwatering, temperature, humidity, air circulation and lighting based onuser input.
 9. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 6,further configured to communicate to a user the need to connect thehydroponic plant grow cabinet to water supply and/or sewage bydisplaying a corresponding message on a display component and/or bysending a message to the user via the network communication component.10. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 1, wherein thedimensions of the hydroponic plant grow cabinet approximately correspondto a refrigerator.
 11. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according toclaim 1, further comprising a loudspeaker configured for at least one ofplaying alarms, messages and playing music to plants.
 12. The hydroponicplant grow cabinet according to claim 1, wherein ambient conditionswithin the cabinet are programmable separately for daytime andnight-time and/or for seasonal cycles.
 13. The hydroponic plant growcabinet according to claim 1, wherein the plant grow pods are arrangedon each stand in an angularly offset configuration so as to align theaperture of each upper pod with a top opening of each subsequent lowerpod.
 14. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 1, whereinthe plant grow pods are arranged in a spiral pattern on each stand,wherein each lower pod is arranged with a an angular offset with respectto its predecessor, said angular offset lying in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the stand, said offsets of all the pods arranged on onestand tracing at least a half circle on the said perpendicular plane.15. The hydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 1, wherein theaperture is at the bottom of each pod and wherein the lower part of eachpod above the aperture is funnel-shaped.
 16. The hydroponic plant growcabinet according to claim 1, wherein each plant growing pod comprisesan opening in its top surface and wherein the diameter of the apertureis smaller than the diameter of the opening of the pod.
 17. Thehydroponic plant grow cabinet according to claim 16, wherein thesubsequent pods are arranged on each stand so as to align the apertureof the top pod with the opening of the lower pod.
 18. A method forhydroponically growing plants, the method comprising Providing ahydroponic plant grow cabinet comprising a housing with a main plantgrowing chamber; Placing at least one module of plant growing pod standsinto the main chamber so that each stand comprises in vertical directionmultitude of plant grow pods arranged at least in part one above theother; Placing a nutrient growing solution into a main tank of thehydroponic plant grow cabinet; Feeding the nutrient solution from themain tank to the plant growing pod stands at the top of the main chamberinto the top most growing pod; The nutrient solution flowing from thetop most growing pod to each subsequent growing pod via an aperture atthe bottom of each growing pod.
 19. The method according to claim 18,further comprising collecting the exiting nutrient solution from thelower most pod to a collecting pan and feeding it further into apre-growing chamber of the hydroponic plant growth cabinet, saidpre-growing chamber configured to receive seeds and/or seedlings. 20.The method according to claim 18, further comprising the hydroponicplant grow cabinet communicating with a user device, said communicationrelating to at least one of Providing status of the hydroponic plantgrow cabinet and/or status of its individual components; Providingstatus of the plants growing in the hydroponic plant growth cabinet;Requesting to perform a maintenance action on the hydroponic plant growcabinet.
 21. The method according to claim 18 further comprising thehydroponic plant grow cabinet adjusting at least one of plant growingparameters in response to input via a user device.
 22. A system forhydroponically growing plants, the system comprising A hydroponic plantgrow cabinet according to claim 1; and A user device; Wherein thehydroponic plant grow cabinet is configured to communicate with the userdevice via a network communication component.
 23. The system accordingto claim 22, wherein the hydroponic plant grow cabinet is furtherconfigured to send information to the user device, said informationrelating to at least one of Status of the hydroponic plant grow cabinetand/or status of its individual components; Status of the plants growingin the hydroponic plant growth cabinet; Request to perform a maintenanceaction on the hydroponic plant grow cabinet.
 24. The system according toclaim 22, wherein the hydroponic plant grow cabinet is furtherconfigured to adjust at least one of plant growing parameters inresponse to input via the user device.